Engadget RSS Feedhttp://www.engadget.com
Engadgethttp://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gifEngadgethttp://www.engadget.com
en-usCopyright 2015 AOL Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/28/breakfast-topic-do-you-have-a-set-schedule-for-playing-wow/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/28/breakfast-topic-do-you-have-a-set-schedule-for-playing-wow/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/28/breakfast-topic-do-you-have-a-set-schedule-for-playing-wow/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
I don't do well playing WoW on a free-form basis. During the first half-dozen or so years I spent in Azeroth, I had a schedule to keep. There were raid nights. There were farming and upkeep nights. There were alt nights, and there were PvP nights. And then somewhere along the way, things got more relaxed. That's when I discovered that when I don't have set evenings to settle down with a good session in Azeroth, real life takes over in a major way. Nobody at my house would sweat me for sitting down to play WoW, but there are just so many things that need doing! When I realized what was happening, I put myself back on a WoW schedule based on my husband's raiding schedule in another game, which made a neat fit for the whole family. The routine keeps things rolling.

Do you have a set schedule for playing WoW? Is that built around raid and event schedules, or do you play then because those are the times that work best for your schedule or your family's schedule? Or do you prefer to log in at your whim, morning, noon or night?

]]>
featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsFri, 28 Feb 2014 09:00:00 -050099|20838914http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/27/random-acts-of-uberness-good-times-with-good-people/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/27/random-acts-of-uberness-good-times-with-good-people/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/27/random-acts-of-uberness-good-times-with-good-people/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
Good deeds are all well and good, but good people truly make the world go 'round. If you're recruiting for your guild, you couldn't do better than to find players like these. Good times with good people -- that's taking the random roll out of Random Acts of Uberness.

Caught being uber: Aret, Baelgun (US- Alliance) I'm leveling a Priest alt, Holygears, and I'm in Uldum. The area seems particularly busy perhaps because so many of us are trying to push alts to 90 (we have to use all that yummy Timeless Isle gear, don't we?).

My quest was The Bandit Warlord and required killing Warlord Ihsenn. While I'm flying there, I'm thinking I might have to wait awhile for a respawn because of how busy the area is. As the Warlord shows up on the horizon, I realize he's alive but already tagged. Bummer ... worst timing ever!

Just to help him go down faster, I start hitting the Warlord with Penance, Holy Fire, and a Smite. In the middle of whacking buttons, up pops a group invite. Since the Warlord is going down fast, I quickly accepted, the Warlord died, and I got credit. I typed "Thanks" in party chat and Aret of Baelgun replied with an abbreviated "No problem." Aret managed to invite me and Mesmerizze of Whisperwind before the Warlord died so we could all three get credit.

It's not a huge deal, but it turned a potential "sit and wait" depressing scenario into a "keep on going" moment. Thanks, Aret. -- Holygears, Alexstrasza (US-Alliance)

I actually made myself practice saying the first name of actor Jake Stormoen before our recent phone interview: "Jayyyyyyyke," I intoned over and over, trying to banish the memory of the chewy Irish "Jehk" I'd heard so many times in tale after tale of Azerothian camaraderie from long-time gaming buddy Kristian Nairn ("Hodor" in HBO's Game of Thrones). It's impossible to get very far talking with either actor without running into a reference to the other; the two have formed one of those crazy gaming bonds that -- well, you know how it is with a bromance forged in the ice and fire of Azeroth.

I caught up with the smaller half of the inseparable WoW-playing duo by phone during a break from the frigid set of multi-part fantasy epic Mythica, now filming on location in Utah in temperatures as low as 10 below zero. Young actor with a cool fantasy role? This guy's most definitely got it going on. We explored WoW friendships, mused over the pressures of tanking, laughed about blowing off steam in Azeroth after a long day on the set -- oh, and paused the whole interview mid-stream to deadpan and snort our way through a phone call from the Hodor-sized half of the Nairn/Stormoen duo.

]]>
arrowstorm-entertainmentfacebookfeedfeaturedgame-of-throneshodorjake-stormoenkristian-nairnmatt-mercermichele-morrowmythicaworld-of-warcraft-hodorworld-of-warcraft-interviewsworld-of-warcreaft-kristian-nairnwow-communitywow-hodorwow-interviewsThu, 27 Feb 2014 13:00:00 -050099|20838035http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/27/breakfast-topic-what-mmo-lingo-grates-on-your-last-nerve/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/27/breakfast-topic-what-mmo-lingo-grates-on-your-last-nerve/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/27/breakfast-topic-what-mmo-lingo-grates-on-your-last-nerve/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
Please don't tell me about your "toon." That word drives me to utter distraction. I despair at the idea of players callously shoving their characters out into the boss encounter like so many chess pieces. That's your dude we're talking about! Your avatar, the thing that represents you-ness and all your innovative, adventuresome, heroic purpose! I want to think I'm surrounded by players who are invested in the characters they're playing, rather than simply hopping into them for a quick joyride through LFR before screeching into a parking space and hopping into a new one.

"Toon" doesn't carry the same connotations for plenty of other players, and they couldn't care less about the term. Why should they, when there are so many other pet peeves to fret over -- like players who type "PST whisper" or "PST me." PST is an acronym for "please send tell"; it's not meant, as some players mistakenly believe, to represent the more onomatopoeiaic "psst" sound. There's no need to add anything else after saying PST. In fact, you shouldn't allow your "toon" to "PST anybody," ever. Ouch.

Is there a snippet of MMO lingo that grates on your last nerve? What about it drives you batty?

]]>
featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsThu, 27 Feb 2014 08:00:00 -050099|20838911http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/20/15-minutes-of-fame-flower-power-pollinates-leveling-for-true-ne/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/20/15-minutes-of-fame-flower-power-pollinates-leveling-for-true-ne/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/20/15-minutes-of-fame-flower-power-pollinates-leveling-for-true-ne/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
Crazy metagaming projects are among my favorite topics here at 15 Minutes of Fame. It's impossible not to catch the excitement of someone who's figured out a new way to spin Azeroth. Take for instance the curious case of Doubleagent , the "neutral" pandaren who's managed to make it to level 80 and still climbing without ever leaving the pandaren starting zone. In his case, staying put also means never having chosen a faction; Doubleagent is neither Horde nor Alliance but instead remains a neutral party. And the method to his madness? Flowers. Lots and lots of herbalism and flowers.

Ticking through level 83 when this article was posted, Doubleagent continues to drift through the gentle fields leading to level 90 and beyond -- because oh yes, this is one player who plans to take his leveling project all the way to the top in the coming expansion as well.

]]>
communitycommunity-interviewsdoubleagentfeaturedinterviewsmetagamingneutralneutral-factionneutral-pandarenwarcraft-peoplewarcraft-personalitiesworld-of-warcraft-personalThu, 20 Feb 2014 10:00:00 -050099|20832658http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/17/drama-mamas-where-a-kid-can-be-a-kid/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/17/drama-mamas-where-a-kid-can-be-a-kid/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/17/drama-mamas-where-a-kid-can-be-a-kid/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
Those crazy kids ... We sure hear a lot of frustrated cries for them to get off our Azerothian lawns. The usual scenario: The son or daughter of a relative or friend takes up playing the game. She's a great kid and all, and you're happy to make the occasional dungeon run with her -- it's just that every one of those evenings ends up as an exercise in frustration.

She's late to meeting spots. She goes AFK in the middle of dungeon run. And she pesters you endlessly whenever you're in a raid: "Are you done yet? What are you killing now? Why did you wipe? Are you going to try again? Is everybody mad? Are you done yet?"

Is there a way to keep sharing the occasional fun session with this young player without opening yourself up to a barrage of inconveniences? How can you handle this sticky situation without alienating your relative or friend?

]]>
advicedramafeaturedplaying-wowwarcraft-advicewow-advicewow-dramawow-drama-guidewow-player-guidewow-q-and-aMon, 17 Feb 2014 09:00:00 -050099|20830034http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/13/15-minutes-of-fame-converting-all-of-azeroth-to-raid-by-the-tho/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/13/15-minutes-of-fame-converting-all-of-azeroth-to-raid-by-the-tho/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/13/15-minutes-of-fame-converting-all-of-azeroth-to-raid-by-the-tho/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
You know the new guild on the scene is making a impact on the community when other players offer it up as a solution to other players' woes. Take a look at this excerpt from the comments of a recent Drama Mamas column, wherein a player was unhappy with the way her new raid guild membership was unfolding:

janet.houck I think you need to leave your current team, do some research to find a good match, and move. Aerie Peak has the CTR uber guild, and we're sitting at over 90 raid teams. You can always find a team for you. If you can't, you can build it.

MarshallGlenn @janet.houck wth is CTR uber guild?

janet.houck @MarshallGlenn @janet.houck Convert to Raid, the podcast, has a greenwall'ed guild on Aerie Peak-US A. I think there's 8 sub-guilds at the moment. We tend to attract an older and more serious crowd, so for a 45-year old player, it might be a nice place to check out. :)

TaxmanCDN @janet.houck @MarshallGlenn All of my toons are in the CTR guild. Best guild I've ever been in. I'm on two raid teams, and on my off-nights if I feel like doing a flex there's always someone looking. Great community there, and I've found it to be a better class of raiders (in general) than on other realms.

Liopleurodon @MarshallGlenn @janet.houckConvert To Raid is a popular WoW podcast. They have a series of raiding guilds on Aerie Peak, because there's a cap to the number of people you can have in a guild. I was also under the impression that there were 'steps', like the more casual guild splinter vs the hardcore one to make it easier to find your niche but I'm not entirely sure about that. There are a few other mega/meta-guilds similar to this around, too.

bluefer I had something like this problem and I transferred my toons to Aerie Peak and joined CTR. I suggest you roll an alt on Aerie Peak. AT L15 you can join CTR mega guild and find a ton of teams to choose from with good people and lots of raiders who treat each other pretty well. Best of luck.

While Bluefer sent our letter-writer off with a "best of luck," we don't suspect the Convert to Raid success story has anything to do with luck. We suspect it has everything to do with Pat Krane.

]]>
communitycommunity-interviewsconvert-to-raidfeaturedgamebreaker-showinside-the-studiointerviewskoltranelegendary-showpat-kranepodcastersraiding-guildssignals-mediawarcraft-peoplewarcraft-personalitiesworld-of-warcraft-personalitieswow-peopleThu, 13 Feb 2014 09:00:00 -050099|20827835http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/10/random-acts-of-uberness-around-the-world-with-a-friendly-troll/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/10/random-acts-of-uberness-around-the-world-with-a-friendly-troll/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/10/random-acts-of-uberness-around-the-world-with-a-friendly-troll/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
Why stop at one world boss when you can knock out a whole handful of them? It's easy with a little help from a fellow Hordie. No transportation? No problem!

Caught being uber: Kaza, Zul'jin (US-Horde) Why hello there! I'm Evianary, a level 84 Undead Mage, that's currently on Zul'jin. While on my mage the other day I found a World Boss group and thought why not do it on my mage to try and get prepared for level 90? Unfortunately, I cannot fly in Pandaria, and there were no Warlocks in my group!

I was in quite the pickle, till Kaza, an awesome troll hunter also from Zul'jin. She, or he, flew me to all the various bosses including Sha, Galleon, Oondasta, and Nalak! I even got some shiny epics that are currently waiting for me. I'd just like to really thank her/him for helping a fellow Hordie out! -- Evianary, Zul'jin (US-Horde)

]]>
communityfeaturedgroupinggroupskudosplayer-communitypraisepuggingpugsrandom-acts-of-ubernessshout-outsworld-of-warcraft-communitywow-communityMon, 10 Feb 2014 15:00:00 -050099|20826907http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/09/well-fed-buff-love-is-in-the-air-heart-candy/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/09/well-fed-buff-love-is-in-the-air-heart-candy/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/09/well-fed-buff-love-is-in-the-air-heart-candy/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
That bell-like sound? That sweet scent wafting through the air? Ah, that's love. Love is in the Air means it's time to slip that special someone a strategic Heart Candy. It's the thought the counts; nobody can deny that Heart Candies are probably not the tastiest treats in Azeroth. Good thing nobody actually eats them! (You don't, do you?!)

You can pop as many as you like in real life if you whip up a batch here on Earth instead of in Azeroth. Like love itself, the recipe for Love is in the Air Heart Candy is simple yet demanding; you'll knead your heart out for this one. We've also got two tastier and quite romantic treats to share with you today: the delectable Dark Desire and those irresistible Tauren Toenails. Mmmm, chocolate!

]]>
dark-desireheart-candylove-is-in-the-airMaievs-Grudgerecipestauren-toenailswarcraft-cookingwarcraft-recipeswell-fed-buffwow-cookingwow-recipeswow-themed-recipesSun, 09 Feb 2014 14:00:00 -050099|20825618http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/06/15-minutes-of-fame-japanese-players-build-their-own-community-i/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/06/15-minutes-of-fame-japanese-players-build-their-own-community-i/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/06/15-minutes-of-fame-japanese-players-build-their-own-community-i/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
What does World of Warcraft sound like from an entirely different cultural perspective? Jump to about 8:30 in the above video and listen to the last moments of this heroic boss kill -- the point at which terse expletives usually bristle from from even the most disciplined, well-oiled raiders, the whole thing followed by a deafening avalanche of shouts and cheers when the boss finally falls. Contrast those expectations with the understated pleasure here of CAVAG, a guild of Japanese players on Proudmoore (US-Horde), and you'll gain a sense of just one of the more outward cultural differences between this group and the typical American raiding guild.

Welcome to the world of #wowjp, a network of Japanese WoW players who've learned English primarily through playing the game. You can find localized versions of World of Warcraft in Korea, mainland China and Taiwan, but Japanese players are left to their own devices -- no dedicated servers, no language localization. To solve those challenges, Japanese players have banded together to create their own Japanese game guides, share addons and tips for typing in Japanese within the game, and form a network of Japanese-language guilds across several North American realms.

Bringing us this interview with two Japanese WoW players is the Sha of Happiness, herself a native Japanese speaker and a member of the #wowjp community. But before we begin, a simple and heartfelt message from the Japanese players:

The wowjp community wished to tell the readers/Blizzard: "Thank you for providing the Hippogryph Hatchling for the tsunami relief efforts. Thank you for all of your donations."

]]>
communitycommunity-interviewsfeaturedinterviewsjapanjapanesejapanese-wow-playersroleplayroleplay-communitywarcraft-peoplewarcraft-personalitiesworld-of-warcraft-personalitieswow-in-japanwow-peoplewowjpThu, 06 Feb 2014 19:00:00 -050099|20822920http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/06/breakfast-topic-whats-your-least-favorite-wow-chore/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/06/breakfast-topic-whats-your-least-favorite-wow-chore/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/06/breakfast-topic-whats-your-least-favorite-wow-chore/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
Some players abhor farming rep. Others dislike the farming professions, and still others would rather wear whatever good-enough item comes their way than devote hours, days and weeks farming gear, mounts or other items. Then there are the players who dislike farming on an actual farm. So OK, farming -- definitely one of those things that turns certain players right off.

But farming isn't anywhere near the top of the list of WoW chores I'm not fond of. Atop my list lurks a chore I dread so deeply that I will sometimes abandon (temporarily or even permanently) a character over it: updating a character after a major gameplay patch. Nothing turns me off more than having to tinker under the hood of a character I've long since come to happy terms with. Talent resets are my nemesis. The two or three characters I play the most? Sure, trying out the new stuff is kinda fun. But all those little guys who see only occasional play, the guys whose level I couldn't verify when I'm away from the keyboard and whose keybinds I forget after a day or three away? Setting them up again represents a major investment of time -- one I confess I'm not always willing to make.

What's your least favorite WoW chore? Do you suffer through it to gain certain benefits, or have you sworn off ever performing that dreadful task again?

]]>
choresfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsThu, 06 Feb 2014 08:00:00 -050099|20823665http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/03/random-acts-of-uberness-the-power-of-glasnost/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/03/random-acts-of-uberness-the-power-of-glasnost/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/03/random-acts-of-uberness-the-power-of-glasnost/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
After a veritable hurricane of goodwill during the holidays, it's seemingly back to business as usual on the highways and byways of Azeroth -- except for these players who took something personally in all the right ways.

Caught being uber: Glasnost and Purix, Zul'jin (US-Horde) So I've been trying to tame Degu for weeks on end. I'm just not coordinated enough to do it on my own. So tonight, after my fourth or fifth death, an 88 mage, Purix on Zul'Jin, asked if I wanted some help taming him. We both died a bunch more times trying. So I started advertising for a tank. Oddly enough, I had a DK volunteer, Glasnost on Zul'Jin.

The three of us tried countless times, and the three of us died countless times. Finally, after the DK made the comment, "Alright, now this is personal," we tried a few more times with the three of us and died. Then the DK had the idea to have the mage not do anything, just to let him tank Degu alone. He took the beating until Degu was down under 20% and let himself die. I threw down the ice trap, Deterrence, and hit tame. I got him! I tried to pay both the folks who helped me and they wouldn't let me. I gave the mage all the cloth I had in my bags and the DK says, "Nah, just name him after me." So I did. -- Zentagia, Zul'jin (US-Horde)

This isn't actually an advice question, more a curious query. I've noticed some topical overlap between the Drama Mamas column and the Officers' Quarters column on WoW Insider. Do you guys ever punt submissions over the fence to one another? What criteria should people use when deciding which column they should send their request to?

Thanks!

-- Josh

Guild drama is everywhere ... But yes, there is a method to divvying up all the madness! The Drama Mamas have invited along Scott Andrews from Officers' Quarters this week to help explain how and when they share reader letters. We'll also look at ways to increase your chances of getting a letter published, plus what really happens behind the scenes when Robin and Lisa disagree over a particular letter.

]]>
advicedramafeaturedguild-adviceguild-dramaplaying-wowwarcraft-advicewow-advicewow-dramawow-drama-guidewow-player-guidewow-q-and-aMon, 03 Feb 2014 12:00:00 -050099|20820355http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/01/breakfast-topic-are-you-dried-up-and-looking-for-content/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/01/breakfast-topic-are-you-dried-up-and-looking-for-content/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/02/01/breakfast-topic-are-you-dried-up-and-looking-for-content/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
For every player who adores leveling alts lies another player who lives only for endgame content. These are the players who methodically prepare for patches and expansions long before they arrive. They stockpile points for gear and materials for crafting. They play through content during beta testing to get the lowdown on as many details as possible before attacking it on live. These players farmed the Timeless Isle dry before the time itself even had time to dry.

And unless these players are constrained by a raiding schedule that's less frequent or successful as they'd like, once they've devoured what's available at the endgame, they become bored. Undeniably, utterly, irrevocably bored.

If endgame-only is your preferred playstyle, have you already gone largely or completely inactive for Mists of Pandaria? Have you been successful at finding something else in the game to tide you over until the next bit of new content? If you do stop playing once you've gobbled up whatever's new for endgame players, do you chomp impatiently at the bit for the next release of content -- or are you always vaguely anxious that there might not be enough to tempt you back again?

]]>
featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsSat, 01 Feb 2014 08:00:00 -050099|20818998http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/31/what-single-thing-is-most-responsible-for-keeping-you-logging-in/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/31/what-single-thing-is-most-responsible-for-keeping-you-logging-in/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/31/what-single-thing-is-most-responsible-for-keeping-you-logging-in/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
Back when I was a raiding guild officer, I was around Azeroth just about any moment I wasn't busy elsewhere. There were applicants to interview, recruits to orient, newer players to help gear up and oh so many other to-dos to check off.

Now that I'm in another of my PvP periods, my attention span is less tied to external motivators like guild tasks. I recently leveled a new character to the precise bracket I'd decided I wanted to play him -- and then never logged him back in. Instead, I hopped to another realm with the idea of quickly level-capping a character who was just shy of the finish line. That project quickly devolved into accidentally-on-purpose choosing quest areas that turned into world PvP skirmishes lasting the entire evening. I'll get level 89 Hordeside some day ... Some day.

]]>
featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsFri, 31 Jan 2014 15:00:00 -050099|20819025http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/15-minutes-of-fame-turwinkle-the-gnome-charms-with-adventure-vi/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/15-minutes-of-fame-turwinkle-the-gnome-charms-with-adventure-vi/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/15-minutes-of-fame-turwinkle-the-gnome-charms-with-adventure-vi/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
Sometimes a letter from an appreciative fan is the best way to introduce a player to WoW Insider readers:

I'm writing in to nominate a wonderful man that I recently had the pleasure of working with. Known as Turwinkle on Twitter or Palmerbomber1 on YouTube, he comes from Moon Guard and has recently begun making rounds on Wyrmrest Accord, where he gets in touch with various guilds and interviews them about what they are, what their stories are, and advertises their members. He also has a series with his gnome Turwinkle where he records himself leveling through the game, narrating the adventures of his mage.

The exposure he's done for the Wyrmrest community is second to none, and I'd love to see him get the recognition he deserves. The two hours he spent with our guild was a blast for everyone involved, and I'm sure many of the others he's spoken with felt the same.

Introducing the gentle good humor of Turwinkle the gnome, star of the "let's play" Adventures of Turwinkle and host of Turwinkle Talks interviewing roleplay guilds across Azeroth.

]]>
adventures-of-turwinklecommunitycommunity-interviewsfeaturedinterviewsroleplayroleplay-communityturwinkleturwinkle-talkswarcraft-peoplewarcraft-personalitiesworld-of-warcraft-personalitieswow-peopleThu, 30 Jan 2014 09:00:00 -050099|20817713http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/28/breakfast-topic-have-you-run-every-single-wow-raid/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/28/breakfast-topic-have-you-run-every-single-wow-raid/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/28/breakfast-topic-have-you-run-every-single-wow-raid/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
No matter when you started playing World of Warcraft, if you raid, you've probably felt the itch to visit every last dungeon you can. Motivations vary; some players want to rack up more achievements, some are avidly chasing each scrap of storyline, and others are in search of transmog gear or just plain bored with the current content.

Let's talk about the different ways players enjoy WoW's raid content, both current and classic. Have you taken a turn through every last raid instance in the game? Are you enough of an old-timer that your total includes 40-man and 20-man versions of early dungeons? Which dungeons are the most difficult (or inconvenient or hard to schedule) to revisit today? How many folks here have completed every last raid at the intended level?

]]>
featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsTue, 28 Jan 2014 08:00:00 -050099|20817028http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/27/well-fed-buff-lunar-festival-fortune-cookies/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/27/well-fed-buff-lunar-festival-fortune-cookies/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/27/well-fed-buff-lunar-festival-fortune-cookies/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
Happy Lunar Festival! Need a little pick-me-up in between visiting your elders? Make your own fortune cookies! There's nothing like making your own Azeroth-related fortunes; our favorites are based on the coins of the Dalaran fountain or the humorous Twitter antics of Angryorc.

Just make sure you get the fortunes all written up and ready to go before you start baking, because making fortune cookies is a fast-paced, hands-on project that will demand your full attention as you cut, bake, shape and cool the little guys in quick succession.

]]>
fortune-cookieslunar-festival-fortune-cookiesrecipeswarcraft-cookingwarcraft-recipeswell-fed-buffwow-cookingwow-recipeswow-themed-recipesMon, 27 Jan 2014 19:00:00 -050099|20817008http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/24/breakfast-topic-do-you-chit-chat-in-random-groups/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/24/breakfast-topic-do-you-chit-chat-in-random-groups/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/24/breakfast-topic-do-you-chit-chat-in-random-groups/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
Good morning! Are you just sneaking in the Breakfast Topic daily, or are you lucky enough to be able to run the whole front page before lunchtime? Yeah, I don't normally play in the morning, either. It stinks. Sometimes the boss will catch me online during work hours, yeah -- but it's just to grab a quick screenshot for a new Breakfast Topic, know what I mean? It's not like I'm trying to slip through all my dailies or anything ...

Chit-chat. We love it in the WoW Insider comments, we love in game, and we especially love and recommend it among groupmates, where it helps foster a spirit of cooperation and camaraderie. A friendly greeting at the outset of random groups or raids sets the stage for a more relaxed, personal experience and paves the way for questions, suggestions and comments about the content ahead.

Once you've greeted your groupmates, though, do you keep up the friendly chatter? As a healer, I'm frequently too absorbed by the breakneck pace of most experienced tanks to type much once we've begun. I don't mind others who do, though, especially if they weave in a workmanlike mix of suggestions and gentle joking about our performance. I'll admit to tuning out when the talk turns to sports scores, though. That's when you'll notice players randomly making a Confession or Levitating gently through the instance on puffy little clouds. Oh yeah, sports talk. I'm bored.

So do you chit-chat during random groups? Do you feel awkward when you get matched with an SBD (Silent But Deadly) group? Do you have a patented icebreaker for new groups?

]]>
featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionlevelingworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsFri, 24 Jan 2014 08:00:00 -050099|20813647http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/23/15-minutes-of-fame-tedx-speaker-on-overcoming-anorexia-with-wow/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/23/15-minutes-of-fame-tedx-speaker-on-overcoming-anorexia-with-wow/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/23/15-minutes-of-fame-tedx-speaker-on-overcoming-anorexia-with-wow/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
Continuing our look at young people successfully folding World of Warcraft into their successfully unfolding lives, this week we interview another student for whom WoW has made a big impression. "I saw your Breakfast Topic post How has WoW made your life better?, and well, a few weeks back I had the opportunity to give a TEDx talk about how playing World of Warcraft helped my fight anorexia and a crappy education system," wrote Erik Martin, aka Klaes of Emerald Dream (US).

Talk about All The Things ... Also a game designer who has even worked on projects for the federal government, Erik has rallied from anorexia to go on to advocate for student agency and motivation in education. With a confidence bolstered in Azeroth, he's assembling his own experiences and aspirations into a big-picture view large enough not only to fill his own sails but to help others push off from safe harbor.

Caught being uber: Fireßugz, Ravencrest (US-Alliance) I'd like to send a shout-out to Fireßugz, level 85 dwarf shaman on Ravencrest-US(Alliance). There I was, minding my own business killing Crust Bursters in Hellfire Peninsula ... when the notorious horror of Hellfire appeared overhead! It was a Fel Reaver, of course, and despite popping a health potion and Darkflight, things looked grim ... until suddenly the Fel Reaver turned aside from me, distracted by a flame shock!

Fireßugz descended from the heavens, destroyed the Fel Reaver, and went on his way. I don't know what he was doing in Hellfire Peninsula, or what inspired him to stop to kill it, but it's truly appreciated. -- Carnassial, Ravencrest-US (Alliance)

]]>
communitygroupinggroupskudosplayer-communitypraisepuggingpugsrandom-acts-of-ubernessshout-outsworld-of-warcraft-communitywow-communityTue, 21 Jan 2014 16:00:00 -050099|20812579http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/20/drama-mamas-guild-friends-without-benefits/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/20/drama-mamas-guild-friends-without-benefits/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/20/drama-mamas-guild-friends-without-benefits/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
In an era when it's so easy to open a group or raid to a casual acquaintance, what value does guild membership still hold? Are individual contributors vital to building your guild's strength? Can your ship carry the weight of barnacles that don't contribute?

I'm the leader of a small casual guild. We do a lot of achievement, transmog, and mount runs, and just old stuff for fun. The only current tier raiding we do is Flex mode. Everyone enjoys it and we do fairly well. Awhile back I read a post on our server forum from someone looking for a Flex group since his guild doesn't do too much of anything. He didn't want to leave his current guild, which was fine with us. He sounded like a cool guy so I invited him to our Flex group. He's been doing well and is a great group member. The issue is this:

This guy we picked up on our server forums (and his guildmate friend which also joins us. Both are good group members) has integrated himself to our guild, and Vent server, and a couple of times he was the 8th person in a group for an old raid which we're still lacking in guild achievements. I guess my question is this: Am I wrong for having a problem with these 2 joining our guild runs when they're not guilded? I personally would leave my guild if I had to look elsewhere for the things I enjoy, but that's just me. They have a loyalty to their guild leader for reasons unknown, which is fine, but are we being used here? Am I wrong if I ask these two to either join the guild or work on recruiting for theirs (in a diplomatic way of course!) Guild achievements are a big reason for my issue with these two. Not to mention the communication barrier with people not in our guild chat when someone blurts something out.

Opinions? Am I being a total jerk and should just live and let live? LOL Or should I tell this guy to join us or go away? Thanks for any help you can give, and Happy New Year!

]]>
advicedramafeaturedguild-adviceguild-dramaplaying-wowwarcraft-advicewow-advicewow-dramawow-drama-guidewow-player-guidewow-q-and-aMon, 20 Jan 2014 09:00:00 -050099|20810022http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/19/breakfast-topic-are-you-a-gatherer/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/19/breakfast-topic-are-you-a-gatherer/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/19/breakfast-topic-are-you-a-gatherer/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
It's no secret to anyone I play with regularly that I'm a gatherer. I find gathering soothing enough that I actually enjoy play sessions focused solely on leveling up a gathering skill. One of my all-time favorite memories of WoW are my long, rambling flights around Zangarmarsh to gather herbs while shooting the breeze in guildchat on non-raid nights. I'm sure I've rhapsodized about it in past Breakfast Topics, even. Beautiful zone, peaceful activity, good company.

Herbalism, mining -- heck, even mindless slaughter for leather or cloth: Let's talk about your love (or disdain) for gathering. Do you enjoy gathering, or does it represent the kind of mindless drudgery you avoid at all costs? Do you gather purely to feed your professions? Do you gather only during the leveling process in order to gain more XP? Is gathering a money-maker for you? Do you sell it all?

]]>
featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsSun, 19 Jan 2014 08:00:00 -050099|20810440http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/18/breakfast-topic-have-you-played-through-every-last-leveling-zon/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/18/breakfast-topic-have-you-played-through-every-last-leveling-zon/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/18/breakfast-topic-have-you-played-through-every-last-leveling-zon/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
While I don't believe that any of my characters have actually completed The Explorer or achievement, all of my older girls are intimately familiar with the original zones of Azeroth. I've quested through and explored them for both XP and pleasure, and what I didn't cover with my first round of characters became new ground for subsequent alts.

But when Cataclysm turned so many of leveling zones on their heads, I completely lost track of many of them. Which had I done the new versions of? Which had I begun but moved on from before finishing to keep up with the crazy-fast new XP curve? Which had I given up on after finding the changes not to my taste? Needless to say, I think there are quite a few revamped zones at this point I've never done or finished. One of these days ...

Are you an Insane player or an Explorer? Have you played through every last leveling zone in the game, or is doing so on your bucket list?

]]>
featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsSat, 18 Jan 2014 08:00:00 -050099|20810447http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/16/growing-up-in-wow-one-third-of-a-lifetime-shared-with-azeroth-t/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/16/growing-up-in-wow-one-third-of-a-lifetime-shared-with-azeroth-t/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/01/16/growing-up-in-wow-one-third-of-a-lifetime-shared-with-azeroth-t/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
A few months ago, I received an email from the kind of player who sets off all sorts of bells and whistles for a feature writer like me -- a WoW fan who's integrated the game into a balanced, engaged, lively lifestyle. If you've ever found yourself shaking your fist and snarling at teenaged players as a group -- Get off my lawn! -- then you've probably never met a young player who's got his stuff together quite so well as Zukkai of Area 52 (US).

I'm 18, I'm a raid leader for one of the 10man teams in our guild, and I've been playing since I was 12. In December, I can claim that I've played WoW for a third of my life. Along the way I've been in school full time, and will be attending university in the fall. When I first started playing, my parents regulated my play time. Once I started controlling my play time, I had to learn about my own time management and how to balance WoW with RL priorities. I've also learned how to deal with the social stigmas of playing WoW through high school, including how to explain to your friends that you might not be able to go somewhere because you have to raid.

I've managed to grow up right along side the game, and I think playing it for so long has taught me a couple of valuable lessons along the way. I've had stretches where I'd be playing 4-5 hours a day and I've had stretches where I've toyed with quitting, but I've kept going for 6 years. I've never had massive amounts of time to play, but I've managed to put together my Insane title and collect a large sum of pets and mounts, as well as raid at the heroic level.

Fixated on gaming? Hiding away from life? Not in the least. Our conversation with Zukkai reveals a player for whom World of Warcraft is just another pastime -- albeit one that's filled a full one-third of his lifetime. Moving in and out of WoW with the rest of life's rhythms is as natural as breathing, as Zukkai demonstrates in this look at life for one of the many players today who are growing up in Azeroth.